Read Luke 4:14-30
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Luke 4:21
Jesus is about to start His ministry. In the synagogue of Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up and which we will be soon visiting, Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah who speaks of the coming anointed Messiah of God. It was customary in the synagogue for the reader to give a short 'homily' on the text. However what Jesus said on that day was like a nuclear bomb exploding in the synagogue. In effect He said 'Today there is no ‘homily’ because I am the homily'. He was and is the one who brings Good News to the poor, who frees us from our sin, who heals us and releases us from our bondage.
The word for ‘Good News’ in Greek is ‘evangelio’. Used by the gospel writers, it was typically a term which described a victory by an emperor when he won a battle or overcame a rebellion. He would send an ‘evangelist’ ahead of him to the people to proclaim the Good News. Jesus is the One who brings the Good News of salvation to us. He demonstrates the Kingdom through His Words and His Works of healing, deliverance and restoration.
Thank God that the Good News is not just universal but personal. It is not 'Good Information' but 'Good News' because God loves you deeply and personally and died and rose again for you!
Lord, I receive you joyfully again in my life. I ask you to set me free from my prison, to give me spiritual sight and to release me from what oppresses me. By virtue of my baptism and confirmation, anoint me so I too can share the good news in the power of your Holy Spirit with others.